The Islands on the South Side of it, and the Camaines, are resorted to for the largest and best Turtle.
Porto-Rico, and Hispaniola (the diminutive of Hispania) are Islands we make, in our Passage to Jamaica, famous of late for their Guard le Costas. These Privateering Fellows, when they are not acting by lawful Commission, they know the Governor’s Mind, and bring in Ships on a pretence they are trading with the King of Spain’s Subjects in a clandestine and prohibited manner; if they find any Pieces of Eight, it is a Condemnation; an Encouragement in searching a Ship, to deposite some there themselves: Or if this Trick fails, they are yet detained, and on various Pretences lengthned out with Law-suits, till ruined. We called, after weighing from Barbados, at Sancto Domingo, the chief Town of Hispaniola, where we found three English Masters of Ships under these Hardships. They had got the better in Law, but with such Charge and Delay, that it had spoiled their Ships and Voyages; and lest that should not do it effectually, their Damages are against the Captains of the Privateers, who are perhaps the Governor’s servile Dependants, and not worth a Groat.
Sancto Domingo Harbour has 15 Fathom Water at the Bar, and the Entrance defended by several Batteries. The Town is the Residence of an Arch-Bishop, and a President from Spain, who lives in a House that is said to have been built and occupied by Christopher Columbus himself. To this Officer (on account of its prior Settlement) Appeals come from all the Spanish West-India Islands, whose Sentence is definitive, unless called by a particular Commission to Old Spain. They buy their Places, it seems, and consequently execute them oppressively.
The Island is diminished of its Inhabitants, for this, or a securer and better Settlement on the Continent; so that the French now, about Petit Guavas, equal, if not outnumber them, tho’ both together are vastly short of what its Extent and Fertility deserves. A Soil that produces any thing; their Sea and Rivers full of Fish, and the Country spread with Forests of Cabbage and Palm-Trees, in which are prodigious Numbers of wild Hog and Beef, which the Hunters of different Nations at certain Seasons shoot, the latter for their Hides; and the Pork, they jerk (as they call it) that is, strip it from the Bones, and then salting the Flesh a little, dry it in the Sun.
Bahamas, so called from the Principal, or Lucayes from Lucayone (new Providence, the largest of them) where the English have a Governor: They are noted for a dangerous and rapid Chanel, commonly called the Gulph of Florida, through which the Spanish Fleets always take their Passage to Europe, and are frequently shipwrecked.
The Pyrates often take their rise here, or if not, seldom fail in the Course of their Adventures to visit these Seas. There are Multitudes of little Islands and Kays, besides this Division above, that afford Refreshments of wild Hog, Cow, Goat, Sheep, Parrots, Guanas, Turtle, and Fish; many of them uninhabited, and seldom visited but on that account, whereby they are a natural and good Security. The Sailor, when he would express the Intricacy of any Path-way, stiling it the Caribbees.
They commonly make their Beginning here after this manner; when any Spanish Ship is wrecked in Florida, the Jamaicans fit out Vessels to fish upon her, (the best I believe, being always pleas’d with going shares in such Voyages, which may be judged of by their Treatment of the Galleon cast away on Jamaica, a very few Years ago) and dispute a Right of Plunder with the Spaniard himself, who is also fitted from the Havana on these Accidents, to recover what they can; the Contest therefore is with various Fortune, and sometimes turns to a bad account.
Our Logwood-Cutters from Campechy and Honduras, who have been unfortunate by the frequent Visits of the Spaniards to destroy that Trade, remove hither, or those to them, to consult of Reparations to their broken Fortunes. Saunterers also, who are turtling from different Parts, do all together make a considerable Resort sometimes, and being prompted to Revenge for the Injuries sustained, they combine and furnish out a little Sloop perhaps against them at first, who finding little come by confining their Ways and Means to the Spaniards only, who sail in Fleets, they fall at last on any Nation; the Transition being easy from a Buccanier to a Pyrate; from plundering for others, to do it for themselves.
These Logwood-Cutters, (since mentioned) I must observe, were originally settled at the Bay of Campechy, but with a contested Right that made it hazardous, the Spaniard opposing the Legality, and when uppermost, treating them as Pyrates, which our People have frequently returned again with Interest. It was taken 1659, by Sir Christopher Mins. In 1678 again, by the English and French Privateers; and what Licence the Peace of Utrecht gave, I am uncertain, but they are since drove out, and now support themselves with their Arms at the Bay of Honduras.
They are about 500 (Merchants and Slaves,) and have taken up their Residence at a Place called Barcaderas, about 40 Miles up a narrow River full of Alligators; and what is a greater Inconvenience against transporting their Effects, is a strong Current in it from the Freshes up Land, and the Banks being covered with Shrubs, that makes it difficult to walk and tow the Boats; covered also with infinite Numbers of Sand-Flies, and Muskitos. They live in Pavilions; a Servant at their time of lying down to rest, shaking them till cleared of these Vermin, that are an unsufferable Plague and Impediment to Sleep.